a PENERAPAN KIMIA FORENSIK: PENGGUNAAN POLONIUM (210PO) SEBAGAI RACUN DILIHAT DARI SEGI TOKSIKOLOGI

This study intends to provide a description of how the use of polonium-210 (210Po) as a poison in terms of toxicology. This research is a qualitative research, the type of research uses comprehensive analytic studies and analytical normative approaches. Polonium-210 is created in nuclear reactors. This element is very radioactive which if swallowed even a little is very fatal. After entering the blood tissue, the element mainly targets the liver and kidneys and bone marrow. After 210Po is absorbed into the body, the whole body is basically targeted. The dose given and the sensitivity of individual tissues determine the level of damage throughout the body. Unlike most heavy metals, 210 Po accumulates in soft tissue rather than bone. Polonium (210Po) is a producer of very active alpha particles, but only becomes toxic when entering the body. If entered into the human body, toxic effects are often fatal, even at very small doses. Most of the initial dose is quickly excreted in the feces and urine, but the rest is distributed to the soft tissues of the body.

Bioaccumulation of polonium 210Po in cats’ hair, taking into account potential factors influencing changes in its concentration

The main aim of this study was to determine the bioaccumulation of 210Po in the hair of various cat breeds and an attempt to interpret whether the following factors, such as: breed, length of hair, gender, age, place of living or residence, weight, type of food consumed, taking medications, origin taking into account the structural division of Poland into voivodeships and physiological processes such as pregnancy and lactation have a significant influence on the concentration of this radionuclide. The obtained results show that the factors such as breed, length of hair, living of the cat in a given voivodeship and the type of food served influence the degree of 210Po bioaccumulation.

Radon retrospective dosimetry in different environments

In the present study of retrospective dosimetry, measurements or Radon (222Rn) and Polonium (210Po) were performed. Radon is a radioactive gas and is concentrated in the interior of residential buildings and working places and is considered as a primary cause of lung cancer. To evaluate measurements in different environments, alpha spectrometry was employed in estimating exposure to radon in various locations over a long period of time (hence, the use of the term “retrospective”) through exposure of plastic and glass surfaces. Following these measurements, the Conversion Factor (CF) was calculated. This factor correlates the measured surface concentrations of 210Po with the 222Rn concentrations in the environments under study.